Christina Chirumbolo Biography by Gino Barletta
With family roots deeply embedded in the vibrant culture of Italy, Christina Chirumbolo knew passion for true artistic expression from a very early age. Exposure to Italian folk melodies in her early childhood quickly developed into a love for music that she would later realize as her greatest form of self-expression.
Throughout high school, she excelled in the dramatic and musical arts, garnering many awards for her vocal stylings, as well as acceptance into the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts in Erie, PA. Shortly thereafter, she attended Carnegie Mellon University, where she went on to graduate in 2007 with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree in Vocal Performance.
Pursuing additional musical and cultural studies in Italy, Christina realized that many of the Italian folk songs she had grown up singing had been forgotten. In her attempt to reintroduce the lost art form, Christina began a compositional journey, spotlighting and reinventing a compilation of the forgotten songs. In April 2008, she presented the world with a self-produced album, "The Stranger”, which was recognized both nationally and internationally. The album led to a number of performances throughout the U.S. on various televised programs, such as CBS Pittsburgh and Today LIVE, as well as on numerous European media platforms. In 2011, Carnegie Mellon, recognizing the performer’s accomplishments, honored Christina with the university’s Distinguished Alum award.
While pursuing her passion for Italian folk music, Christina stumbled upon another passion—teaching. This love for sharing knowledge and experience eventually manifested in what is now the Accelerando Performing Arts Conservatory. Today, the conservatory provides programming for youth, ages 4 through 19, in the areas of music, dance and theatre. Accelerando alumni have gone on to attend highly touted university music degree programs, as well as to attain great success in performance careers in both New York City and Los Angeles.
Continuing to be the bridge between Pittsburgh and major entertainment industry cities like New York City and Los Angeles, Christina has facilitated creative collaborations between Accelerando students and major industry players who have achieved success as Top 40 songwriters, recording artists, multi-platinum-selling producers and celebrity choreographers. Most recently, she founded the Inside Access program, an educational satellite program of Accelerando that specializes in Artist Development Education for up-and-coming artists in the Pittsburgh region.